Tuberculosis screening now a must for PHL applicants for long-term UK visas
The UK Border Agency on Thursday said pre-entry tuberculosis (TB) screening will be a requirement for Philippine applicants seeking long-term visas starting February 28.
In a news release, the British Embassy said pre-entry TB screening is only required for individuals applying for UK visas longer than six months.
The applicants must obtain a certificate from an approved International Organization for Migration (IOM) Health Center in the Philippines to show that they are free of TB.
The embassy said applicants who need to undergo TB screening should contact the IOM Health Center in Manila to schedule an appointment and pay a P3,200 fee.
No appointments will be available until February 28.
The TB certificate will be submitted together with their visa application.
TB screening
According to the British Embassy, the UK government announced in May last year that it would be extending this requirement to an additional 67 countries, including the Philippines.
The list of countries was based on World Health Organization (WHO) figures for high TB incidence.
Pre-entry TB screening is also practiced by countries such as the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
Further details about the new TB screening are available on the UK Border Agency in Philippines website.
A list of approved Health Center facilities in Manila can also be found on the UK Border Agency website.
Source: GAMA News Online
